Envoys of Wealthy Countries Roll Up Huge Parking Fines

Diplomats for some of the world’s wealthiest countries routinely roll up mammoth parking fines in Washington, then thumb their noses at the city when it tries to collect.

The Soviet Union, which is seeking aid from the United States, is by far the leader on the list--accounting for more than $3.2 million out of a total of nearly $7 million in unpaid parking tickets.

But the list of diplomatic deadbeats also includes wealthy oil states aided by the United States during the Persian Gulf War, such as Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates.

Israel and Egypt, the two largest beneficiaries of U.S. foreign aid, are on the list. Even the Vatican owes $90.

Bangladesh, one of the world’s poorest countries, has paid $20 of the amount it owed.

Efforts to encourage voluntary payment have fallen short, and a congressman is now threatening to cut off foreign aid to countries that fail to settle their local debts.

Rep. David R. Obey (D-Wis.) inserted the warning in a stopgap spending bill Congress passed two weeks ago, a measure that extends foreign aid spending through next March.